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What are the Benefits of Virtualisation?

Geoff Roy - Friday, May 22, 2015

More and more often are we seeing businesses turn to server virtualisation as an effective method of gaining maximum efficiency from their network.

Virtualisation is a method of partitioning the resources of a network’s server, in effect, creating smaller, so called ‘virtual’ servers, each of which would have just enough capacity to run specific applications.

This marks a change from the more traditional method which would likely have used dedicated individual servers for every application being utilised by the business’ system. Whilst this traditional method was effect in that it allowed applications to run without hindrance, the downside to the system is that it’s a somewhat inefficient method, with large chunks of each server’s resources basically redundant due to the relatively small capacity required for the application.

Indeed that inefficiency is made greater on account of the fact that, by using multiple servers you require a greater amount of hardware and, by consequence, more space for storage.

How does virtualisation work?

Virtualisation is created on the system by use of a specialist piece of software which has the ability to divide the large server down into smaller ‘mini’ server environments thereby turning them into the virtual (or private) servers.

We might typically see this in operation with regard to web servers as the creation of virtual web servers has proved to be a popular method of delivering web hosting services at relatively low costs.

Why?

Simply because, as you are able to create manifold virtual servers all within one computer system, as opposed to having each residing on a separate computer, running costs and equipment spend is significantly reduced.

Benefits of Virtualisation

Cost Savings

One of the most significant benefits that business’ find from adopting virtualisation is the benefits to costs and, ultimately, the bottom line. Virtualisation requires, as we’ve alluded to, less hardware and by consequence less space, which has positive implications on costs.

Operational Savings

Not only can you save on your hardware costs but with less equipment to manage you have less cost implications operationally as well. Less equipment and hardware means that you have less of a maintenance and repair factor in your system which can mean less spending on physical goods, more efficient management and improvements in company productivity.

Independent Servers

Because each virtual server has its own operating system which remains independent of other servers the network managers have control of each application and can work with them in isolation of other apps on the system; for instance, should an app require rebooting it can be done without having to reboot any or every other part of the network.

Greater Uptime

With virtualisation you can easily move an application from one server to another should a problem arise. This means that if something does go down it can be usually be quickly and relatively easily put right to get the system back up with minimum delay.

Helping the Environmental

If you are reducing the number of servers on your network, by consequence, you are reducing the amount of energy output. This will of course have the knock on effect of making your system more environmentally friendly and an energy efficient system is not only good for the globe, it’s another factor in reducing costs in your company.